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A.R. Gurney's 'Love And Money' Debuts In Westport Next Year

WESTPORT, Conn. -- Westport Country Playhouse will stage the world premiere comedy, “Love and Money" as part of its 2015 season.

A.R. "Pete" Gurney's comedy "Love and Money" will debut next summer at Westport Country Playhouse.

A.R. "Pete" Gurney's comedy "Love and Money" will debut next summer at Westport Country Playhouse.

Photo Credit: Contributed
Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, will be the director for "Love and Money."

Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, will be the director for "Love and Money."

Photo Credit: Contributed

The play is written by A.R. "Pete" Gurney, one of the most-produced playwrights in the theater’s history. Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director and frequent director of Gurney’s plays, will direct the production, scheduled for July 21 to Aug. 8, 2015. 

Lamos made the announcement at the Playhouse’s recent fundraising gala which honored Gurney for his body of work. New York’s Signature Theatre will co-produce the new play, with performances there set for later in August. 

“Pete Gurney's writing never fails to amuse and amaze me,” said Lamos. “This prolific playwright, whose plays have entertained Playhouse audiences for decades, always finds new insights and humor by delineating the travails and changes in the lives of that dear, ever-departing tribe: New England WASPs. We're excited to have the chance to work on this new play before it premieres at New York's Signature Theatre immediately following its run at the Playhouse.”

The world premiere comedy “Love and Money” pointedly explores the trials of class, family, legacy and race. Wealthy widow Cornelia Cunningham has led a life of grace and privilege— and she’s making up for it as fast as she can. Determined to donate almost everything she owns before the end, Cornelia’s plans are questioned when an ambitious and ingratiating young man, who may be the grandson she never knew she had, arrives to claim his inheritance.

Fourteen productions of Gurney’s plays have been staged at Westport Country Playhouse, including one world premiere, “Children,” with Sada Thompson in 1980. That began the theater’s long string of productions by Gurney.

Gurney, a Connecticut resident, has written plays for more than 50 years. In 2012, he won a Drama Desk Award for his body of work. Gurney is a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He has honorary degrees from Williams College and Buffalo State University and taught literature at M.I.T. for many years.

Gurney’s “Love and Money” joins the previously announced four plays that comprise Westport Country Playhouse’s 2015 season: “The Liar,” by David Ives, May 5 to May 23;  “And a Nightingale Sang” by C. P. Taylor, June 9 to June 27; “Bedroom Farce,” Aug.  25 to Sept. 12; and Arthur Miller’s “Broken Glass,” Oct. 6 to 31, 2015.

Subscriptions for 2015 now are on sale for current and new subscribers, including online purchasing capability. For more information, call the box office at (203) 227-4177 or visit the Playhouse website.

 

 

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